There’s something incredibly seductive about walking into a twinkly casino, smelling the opulence and seeing all the flashing lights. It makes you think, maybe if I roll that dice just right, I could win it big and retire to my own private island. But the truth is gambling is a risky business, and while casinos offer us luxuriating perks like free drinks and comped rooms, they also use clever strategies to keep you playing and spending your money.
One way casinos do this is by strategically placing essential amenities like toilets, restaurants, and cash machines deep within the gaming floor to force players to walk past enticing slot machines, tables, and other games in order to access them. This method is known as “tourist trap” design, and it’s intended to keep players inside the casino longer by making them unable to leave without risking their money or winnings.
Another way casinos trick players is by encouraging them to gamble with chips or casino credits, rather than actual cash, which makes it harder for them to keep track of how much they’re losing. They also pour them plenty of alcohol, which inebriates them and clouds their sense of judgement, reducing their ability to make rational decisions.
While Casino may have a small cast of characters, it’s a remarkably rich and complex story that digs beneath the surface of Las Vegas culture. It shows how a city that was once run by the Mafia was quickly devoured and replaced by huge gambling corporations that work like Disneyland.